Tech Support Forum - View Single Post - How do I replace IDE hard drive with SATA?

FloridaPapa · 05-14-2008, 06:28 AM

I hope I posted this in the correct forum.

My current master hard drive C: (WD 160GB IDE drive) is almost full and starting to show signs of impending failure. I bought a new 500GB WD SATA hard drive to replace it.

My question: Can I do the swap without having to do a clean install of Windows XP Pro and all the other software and hardware currently installed? If so, how? Or, is a clean install the preferred way to go?

My GIGABYTE GA-K8N motherboard supports both IDE and SATA. I also have a slave WD IDE 120GB drive currently installed (drive D:). More info... Actually, I purchased two WD 500GB SATA drives and want to install both, one as drive C: and the other as a another secondary drive (no RAID), but I also want to keep the 120GB IDE drive installed as another place to back up files. Is this all possible?

Thank you (anyone) who can help me.

05-14-2008, 06:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
FloridaPapa Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Originally from Northeast US; now living in hot & humid Central Florida Posts: 44 OS: Win XP Pro	How do I replace IDE hard drive with SATA? I hope I posted this in the correct forum. My current master hard drive C: (WD 160GB IDE drive) is almost full and starting to show signs of impending failure. I bought a new 500GB WD SATA hard drive to replace it. My question: Can I do the swap without having to do a clean install of Windows XP Pro and all the other software and hardware currently installed? If so, how? Or, is a clean install the preferred way to go? My GIGABYTE GA-K8N motherboard supports both IDE and SATA. I also have a slave WD IDE 120GB drive currently installed (drive D:). More info... Actually, I purchased two WD 500GB SATA drives and want to install both, one as drive C: and the other as a another secondary drive (no RAID), but I also want to keep the 120GB IDE drive installed as another place to back up files. Is this all possible? Thank you (anyone) who can help me.